CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Premier Farnell plc is committed to achieving high standards of business integrity, ethics and professionalism.
Valerie Gooding, CBE, Non-Executive ChairmanAge 61
Valerie Gooding CBE, succeeded Sir Peter Gershon as Chairman on June 14 2011, following his retirement at the Company’s AGM. Ms Gooding’s career as a global executive included 10 years as CEO of BUPA as well as having previously held the position of Director of Asia Pacific at British Airways. She is currently Non-Executive director at Standard Chartered plc and the BBC and was previously a non-executive director of J Sainsbury plc, Compass Group plc and BAA plc.
Harriet Green, OBE, BA (Hons),
Chief Executive Officer
Aged 49
Appointed as Chief Executive Officer on 3 April 2006. Currently a member of the Board of Directors of Emerson Electric Company and BAE Systems plc and is a founder member of “Peaceworks” movement. Previously ran volume distribution businesses in four continents, (including Asia Pacific) for Arrow Electronics as well as having functional responsibility for worldwide marketing, suppliers and strategy. Prior to joining Arrow in 1994 was Managing Director of the Macro Group, part of Diploma plc.
Chief Executive Officer
Aged 49
Appointed as Chief Executive Officer on 3 April 2006. Currently a member of the Board of Directors of Emerson Electric Company and BAE Systems plc and is a founder member of “Peaceworks” movement. Previously ran volume distribution businesses in four continents, (including Asia Pacific) for Arrow Electronics as well as having functional responsibility for worldwide marketing, suppliers and strategy. Prior to joining Arrow in 1994 was Managing Director of the Macro Group, part of Diploma plc.
Nicholas Cadbury,
Chief Financial Officer
Nicholas joined Premier Farnell as the Group’s Chief Financial Officer on 1st September 2011, bringing a wealth of commercial and financial experience to the Group after 18 years at Dixons Retail plc where he was Group CFO since 2008. Nicholas’ role at Dixons encompassed a broad remit including responsibility for IT, cost optimisation and the Group’s strategic development. Prior to the CFO role, he held a number of roles across the group, including Group Retail Finance Director, Finance and Development Director and Commercial Director for PC World. He has also held key international roles with full balance sheet responsibility as Managing Director of both Dixons Tax Free and PC City Italy. Before joining Dixons, Nicholas was a Chartered Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Nicholas graduated from Reading University with a degree in Politics and Philosophy.
Chief Financial Officer
Nicholas joined Premier Farnell as the Group’s Chief Financial Officer on 1st September 2011, bringing a wealth of commercial and financial experience to the Group after 18 years at Dixons Retail plc where he was Group CFO since 2008. Nicholas’ role at Dixons encompassed a broad remit including responsibility for IT, cost optimisation and the Group’s strategic development. Prior to the CFO role, he held a number of roles across the group, including Group Retail Finance Director, Finance and Development Director and Commercial Director for PC World. He has also held key international roles with full balance sheet responsibility as Managing Director of both Dixons Tax Free and PC City Italy. Before joining Dixons, Nicholas was a Chartered Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Nicholas graduated from Reading University with a degree in Politics and Philosophy.
Laurence Bain, CA,
Chief Operating Officer
Aged 57
Appointed Chief Operating Officer in July 2002 and joined the Board as an Executive Director on 1 July 2003. Previously Vice President and Director of Operations for Motorola in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Chief Operating Officer
Aged 57
Appointed Chief Operating Officer in July 2002 and joined the Board as an Executive Director on 1 July 2003. Previously Vice President and Director of Operations for Motorola in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Steven Webb, LLB Solicitor,
Company Secretary and General Counsel
Aged 48
Appointed as Company Secretary and General Counsel in December 2000. Previously Company Secretary and General Counsel of Kelda Group plc and Company Secretary of Kalon Group plc.
Company Secretary and General Counsel
Aged 48
Appointed as Company Secretary and General Counsel in December 2000. Previously Company Secretary and General Counsel of Kelda Group plc and Company Secretary of Kalon Group plc.
Andrew Dougal,
B Acc, CA,
Non-Executive Director
Aged 59
Appointed as a Non-Executive Director in September 2006. Formerly Chief Executive of Hanson plc, the international building materials company and previously Finance Director of Hanson, the diversified industrial group. Non-Executive Director of Taylor Wimpey plc and Creston Plc. Formerly a Non-Executive Director of BPB plc.
B Acc, CA,
Non-Executive Director
Aged 59
Appointed as a Non-Executive Director in September 2006. Formerly Chief Executive of Hanson plc, the international building materials company and previously Finance Director of Hanson, the diversified industrial group. Non-Executive Director of Taylor Wimpey plc and Creston Plc. Formerly a Non-Executive Director of BPB plc.
Dennis Millard, CA (SA), MBA,
Non-Executive Director
Aged 62
Appointed as a Non-Executive Director in September 2007 and as Senior Independent Director in June 2008. Formerly Group Finance Director of Cookson Group plc. Non-Executive Chairman of Halfords Group plc and of Smiths News Plc, Non-Executive Director of Debenhams plc and Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of Xchanging plc. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Holy Cross Children’s Trust charity.
Non-Executive Director
Aged 62
Appointed as a Non-Executive Director in September 2007 and as Senior Independent Director in June 2008. Formerly Group Finance Director of Cookson Group plc. Non-Executive Chairman of Halfords Group plc and of Smiths News Plc, Non-Executive Director of Debenhams plc and Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of Xchanging plc. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Holy Cross Children’s Trust charity.
Paul Withers, LMA,
Non-Executive Director
Aged 54
Appointed as a Non-Executive Director in September 2007. Formerly an Executive Director of BPB plc. Non-Executive Director of Hyder Consulting plc.
Non-Executive Director
Aged 54
Appointed as a Non-Executive Director in September 2007. Formerly an Executive Director of BPB plc. Non-Executive Director of Hyder Consulting plc.
Thomas Reddin BSc, MBA,
Non-Executive Director
Age 50
Appointed as a Non-Executive Director in September 2010. Formerly vice President of Consumer Marketing at Coca-Cola USA and President, COO, and ultimately CEO, of LendingTree LLC, a market leader in web-based lending. Currently a Non-Executive Director of Valassis Communications Inc and Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. He is also a Managing Partner of Red Dog Ventures, LLC, a venture capital and advisory firm in the digital arena.
Non-Executive Director
Age 50
Appointed as a Non-Executive Director in September 2010. Formerly vice President of Consumer Marketing at Coca-Cola USA and President, COO, and ultimately CEO, of LendingTree LLC, a market leader in web-based lending. Currently a Non-Executive Director of Valassis Communications Inc and Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. He is also a Managing Partner of Red Dog Ventures, LLC, a venture capital and advisory firm in the digital arena.
Audit Committee:
Dennis Millard (Chairman)
Andrew Dougal
Paul Withers
Nominations Committee:
Valerie Gooding (Chairman)
Dennis Millard
Andrew Dougal
Paul Withers
Thomas Reddin
Harriet Green
Remuneration Committee:
Paul Withers (Chairman)
Andrew Dougal
Dennis Millard
Dennis Millard (Chairman)
Andrew Dougal
Paul Withers
Nominations Committee:
Valerie Gooding (Chairman)
Dennis Millard
Andrew Dougal
Paul Withers
Thomas Reddin
Harriet Green
Remuneration Committee:
Paul Withers (Chairman)
Andrew Dougal
Dennis Millard
Back to top